First five minutes
- Stop the Romestead dedicated server and tell players not to reconnect yet.
- Copy the current save/world folder and config file into a folder named something like
broken-after-update. - Find the last backup from before the update.
- Copy that backup to a separate restore-test folder instead of editing the only backup.
- Restart the server with the restored copy and test with one player before opening the session again.
What probably happened
| Symptom | Possible cause | Safe next move |
|---|---|---|
| World missing after update | Wrong save path, new default world, or config auto-load mismatch | Check config world name and restore a copy of the old save. |
| Server crashes when loading world | Version mismatch, damaged save, or bad config after update | Preserve files, validate server files, then test a backup. |
| Settings reset | Config overwritten or a different config file is being used | Compare with the backed-up config before editing. |
| Friends cannot join after restore | Port, password, or server name changed during recovery | Re-check UDP 8050, password, and config values. |
Recovery checklist
- Keep three copies while recovering: current broken files, last good backup, and restore-test copy.
- Use SteamCMD validation only after preserving save and config files.
- Do not mix several old backups together unless you document exactly what changed.
- After a successful restore, make a fresh backup before inviting the full group back.
- If you use managed hosting, download the backup locally before pressing any panel repair button.
Prevention for next update
Before every update, stop the server, copy saves and config files, then run SteamCMD update or provider update tools. After updating, test with one player and keep the old backup for a while. The goal is not just to have a backup; it is to have a backup you can restore under pressure.
Related Romestead server guides
Use the save backup guide before updates, SteamCMD App ID 4763510 when validating server files, config file location if the wrong world loads, and hosting options if your group needs automatic backups.